Spring Break
Young and uninsured
After college, many go without health care plans
Tara Bannow
Issue date: 3/31/08 Section: Money/Health
Wing it.
It's what many students, including senior David Bashaw, will do when they graduate from college and are dropped from their parent's health care plans.
Bashaw, who will be dropped from his parent's plan when he turns 25, has a job lined up that will provide health insurance. In the meantime, he will remain uninsured for about a month if all goes according to plan.
But he said he's not worried.
"Nothing major's happened so far," he said. "It's my luck something will, but I'm hoping that it won't."
Chris Powell, sales agent for Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield, N17 W24340 Riverwood Dr., Waukesha, said many of students think nothing is going to happen to them.
"It's basically one of those things people don't feel they need to get checked out until they're older," he said.
Young people think they're invincible, said Don Southard, whose insurance company, Southard Insurance Agency, Inc., has been servicing UW-Eau Claire's Student Health Care Program since 1965. The university's Student Health Care Program is managed by Student Senate and is located in the basement of Davies Center.
"If you didn't have health insurance today and you had an accident, would you be able to pay the medical bills?" Southard said. "With today's medical care costs, it's a large gamble."
Until age 24 and 25, most people remain insured under their parent's health care plans, Powell said, and once they get out of college and into the work environment, they go without coverage because they don't think they need it. Ironically, he added, they are at the best age to receive coverage because it is so inexpensive.
It is mostly males that go uninsured because females are generally better about getting annual checkups, Powell said.
Many employers don't want to cover the dependents of their workers once they are of adult age, Powell said, adding some cancel them at age 19, some at 21. He said many companies share the mentality, "now that you're not a student, you're not under mom and dad's house anymore. It's time to grow up and take responsibility for yourself."
It's what many students, including senior David Bashaw, will do when they graduate from college and are dropped from their parent's health care plans.
Bashaw, who will be dropped from his parent's plan when he turns 25, has a job lined up that will provide health insurance. In the meantime, he will remain uninsured for about a month if all goes according to plan.
But he said he's not worried.
"Nothing major's happened so far," he said. "It's my luck something will, but I'm hoping that it won't."
Chris Powell, sales agent for Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield, N17 W24340 Riverwood Dr., Waukesha, said many of students think nothing is going to happen to them.
"It's basically one of those things people don't feel they need to get checked out until they're older," he said.
Young people think they're invincible, said Don Southard, whose insurance company, Southard Insurance Agency, Inc., has been servicing UW-Eau Claire's Student Health Care Program since 1965. The university's Student Health Care Program is managed by Student Senate and is located in the basement of Davies Center.
"If you didn't have health insurance today and you had an accident, would you be able to pay the medical bills?" Southard said. "With today's medical care costs, it's a large gamble."
Until age 24 and 25, most people remain insured under their parent's health care plans, Powell said, and once they get out of college and into the work environment, they go without coverage because they don't think they need it. Ironically, he added, they are at the best age to receive coverage because it is so inexpensive.
It is mostly males that go uninsured because females are generally better about getting annual checkups, Powell said.
Many employers don't want to cover the dependents of their workers once they are of adult age, Powell said, adding some cancel them at age 19, some at 21. He said many companies share the mentality, "now that you're not a student, you're not under mom and dad's house anymore. It's time to grow up and take responsibility for yourself."
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